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  Gustave Courbet and artworks

  Patrick Bade

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  Ornans, Courbet’s birthplace, is near the beautiful valley of the Doubs River, and it was here as a boy, and later as a man, that he absorbed the love of landscape.
  He was by nature a revolutionary, a man born to oppose existing order and to assert his independence; he had that quality of bluster and brutality which makes the revolutionary count in art as well as in politics. In both directions his spirit of revolt manifested itself. He went to Paris to study art, yet he did not attach himself to the studio of any of the prominent masters. Already in his country home he had had a little instruction in painting, and preferred to study the masterpieces of the Louvre. At first his pictures were not sufficiently distinctive to arouse any opposition, and were admitted to the Salon. Then followed the Funeral at Ornans, which the critics violently assailed: “A masquerade funeral, six metres long, in which there is more to laugh at than to weep over.” Indeed, the real offence of Courbet’s pictures was that they represented live flesh and blood. They depicted men and women as they really are and realistically doing the business in which they are engaged. His figures were not men and women deprived of personality and idealised into a type, posed in positions that will decorate the canvas. He advocated painting things as they are, and proclaimed that la vérité vraie must be the aim of the artist. So at the Universal Exposition of 1855 he withdrew his pictures from the exhibition grounds and set them in a wooden booth, just outside the entrance. Over the booth he posted a sign with large lettering. It read, simply: “Courbet – Realist.” Like every revolutionary, he was an extremist. He ignored the fact that to every artist the truth of nature appears under a different guise according to his way of seeing and experiencing. Instead, he adhered to the notion that art is only a copying of nature and not a matter also of selection and arrangement. In his contempt for prettiness Courbet often chose subjects which may fairly be called ugly. But that he also had a sense of beauty may be seen in his landscapes. That sense, mingled with his capacity for deep emotion, appears in his marines – these last being his most impressive work. Moreover, in all his works, whether attractive or not to the observer, he proved himself a powerful painter, painting in a broad, free manner, with a fine feeling for colour, and with a firmness of pigment that made all his representations very real and stirring.

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  Bible 06: Joshua

  King James

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  Experience the gripping narratives and profound lessons of the Book of Joshua in the Bible. This audiobook takes you on an extraordinary journey through the conquest and settlement of the Promised Land. From the crossing of the Jordan River to the famous battle of Jericho, these powerful stories reveal the strength, courage, and faith of Joshua and the Israelites. Immerse yourself in the dramatic accounts of victories, challenges, and divine guidance as the Israelites establish their presence in the land flowing with milk and honey. With its blend of historical events, moral teachings, and spiritual insights, the Book of Joshua offers timeless wisdom and inspiration for believers and history enthusiasts alike. Get ready to be captivated by the triumphs and trials of Joshua and the remarkable story of God's faithfulness to His people.

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  Peaks and Bandits - The classic...

  Alf Bonnevie Bryn

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  In 1909, while dreaming of the Himalaya, Norwegian mountaineer Alf Bonnevie Bryn and a fellow young climber, the Australian George Ingle Finch, set their sights on Corsica to build their experience. The events of this memorable trip form the basis of Bryn's acclaimed book Tinder og banditter – 'Peaks and Bandits', with their boisterous exploits delighting Norwegian readers for generations. Newly translated by Bibbi Lee, this classic of Norwegian literature is available for the first time in English.
  Although Bryn would go on to become a respected mountaineer and author, and Finch would become regarded as one of the greatest mountaineers of all time – a legend of the 1922 Everest expedition – Peaks and Bandits captures them on the cusp of these achievements: simply two students taking advantage of their Easter holidays, their escapades driven by their passion for climbing. As they find themselves in unexpected and often strange places, Bryn's sharp and jubilant narrative epitomises travel writing at its best.
  Balancing its wit with fascinating insight into life in early twentieth-century Corsica, the infectious enthusiasm of Bryn's narrative has cemented it as one of Norway's most treasured adventure books. Peaks and Bandits embodies the timeless joy of adventure.

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  The Best of Wait Wait Don't Tell...

  National Public Radio

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  The first Wait Wait . . . Don’t Tell Me! collection focused on the best of the “Not My Job” segment of the program. This second collection skims the cream off the entire archive of the show, with selections from “Who’s Carl This Time?” “Lightning Fill in the Blank,” “The Listener Limerick Challenge,” “Not My Job!” and more. 
  Panelists include author and humorist Roy Blount Jr., author and radio anomaly Tom Bodett, syndicated advice columnist Amy Dickinson (“Ask Amy”), journalist P.J. O’Rourke, Washington Post columnist Roxanne Roberts, Boston Globe writer Charlie Pierce, comedian Paula Poundstone, and television personality Mo Rocca.

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  True North - Travels in Arctic...

  Gavin Francis

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  A journey through the far north from the Shetland Islands to Greenland and beyond: “A wonder-voyage . . . often beautiful” (Robert Macfarlane, author of Underland). The stark, vast beauty of the remote landscape of Arctic Europe has been the focus of human exploration for thousands of years. In this striking blend of travel writing, history, and mythology, Gavin Francis offers a unique portrait of the northern fringes of Europe. His journey begins in the Shetland Islands, takes him to the Faroes, Iceland, Greenland, Svalbard, and Lapland.   Following in the footsteps of the area's early pioneers, the author observes how the region has adapted to the twenty-first century, offering insight into the lives of people he encounters along the way. As with all the best travel writing, True North is an engaging, compassionate tale of self-discovery, blending historical and contemporary narratives.   “His nuanced, often witty, observations of the people and places he encounters mean True North really gets under the skin of Europe’s magical north.” —Sunday Herald   “An evocative writer.” —Booklist on Empire Antarctica

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  The Natural & Handmade Soap Book...

  Sarah Harper

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  “The natural products you can make from this book are not only kinder to your skin; they are also better for the planet” (Soap Making Magazine, “Top 6 Books for Soap Making”).   From nourishing oat soap bars to impressive rosebud soap cakes and fun soaps for kids, this book will inspire you to make beautiful handmade soap without all the chemicals found in commercial products.   Sarah shows you how to master the two key techniques of handmade soapmaking—the traditional cold-process method and the fast and fun melt-and-pour method—and then demonstrates how to use these techniques to make fabulous soaps, shampoo bars, homemade washing powder, and even dishwasher soap bombs.   Step-by-step photography and the author’s insightful advice from years of experience teaching soapmaking makes every project achievable, guiding you effortlessly from start to finish. Packed with handy tips and an easy, approachable style, this is a beautiful book filled with practical projects so that anyone, including children, can make a variety of soaps they will be proud to use, display, and give away!   “This book shows that making soap is not just about the science, but can be another kind of art as it allows makers to bring out their creativity in the process.” —Bangkok Post   “A fabulous book for anyone interested in all things soap.” —Sustainable(ish)

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